SKorea to file complaint over Olympic judging

By Associated Press
| 7:21 p.m.March 24, 2014

FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2014 file photo, women's free skate figure skating silver medalist Yuna Kim of South Korea smiles during the medals ceremony at the 2014 Winter Olympics, in Sochi, Russia. South Korean sports officials said Tuesday, March 25, 2014, they are preparing to file a formal complaint with the International Skating Union over the judging of the women’s figure skating competitions at the Sochi Olympics. Many South Koreans allege that questionable judging denied Kim a second straight figure skating gold medal. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2014 file photo, women's free skate figure skating silver medalist Yuna Kim of South Korea smiles during the medals ceremony at the 2014 Winter Olympics, in Sochi, Russia. South Korean sports officials said Tuesday, March 25, 2014, they are preparing to file a formal complaint with the International Skating Union over the judging of the women’s figure skating competitions at the Sochi Olympics. Many South Koreans allege that questionable judging denied Kim a second straight figure skating gold medal. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean sports officials said Tuesday they are preparing to file a formal complaint with the International Skating Union over the judging of the women's figure skating competitions at the Sochi Olympics.

South Korean fans were outraged when Yuna Kim was denied a second straight Olympic figure skating gold medal at that the Sochi Games and blamed questionable judging. Kim, the 2010 Olympic champion, settled for silver behind Russian teenager Adelina Sotnikova.

Officials at the Korean Olympic Committee and the Korea Skating Union said their complaint will be filed with the International Skating Union's disciplinary committee calling for an investigation into the judging. Korea Skating Union officials said they are gathering necessary documents and materials.

A joint statement by the two organizations last week said the judging was "unreasonable and unfair." The statement said the two organizations want to "formalize unfairness of the judging" and prevent South Korean figure skaters and other athletes from suffering "unfairness" in judging.

Kim's management company said last week the skater respects the decision to lodge the complaint.

In February, the Korean Olympic Committee sent a protest letter over the judging to the International Olympic Committee, according to South Korean Olympic officials.